(HOUSTON) – A 51-year-old Angleton resident has been charged with possessing and distributing child pornography, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.

On Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, a federal grand jury returned under seal a two-count indictment charging Agustin G. Figueroa Jr., 51, of Angleton, Texas, with distributing and possessing child pornography on May 25, 2010. The indictment was unsealed today following Figueroa’s arrest. He has made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen W. Smith and will remain in federal custody pending a hearing on Friday, Oct. 29, on the government’s motion to detain him in federal custody without bond pending trial of this case

The charges against Figueroa are the result of an investigation conducted by members of the United States Secret Service and the Houston Metro Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force which focuses its attention on investigating offenses involving the exploitation of children via the internet.

Figueroa faces a mandatory minimum statutory sentence of 15 years imprisonment up to a maximum of 40 years for distribution of child pornography if convicted of the charge. The possession of child pornography charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years up to 20 years imprisonment. Upon completion of any prison term imposed upon conviction of either charge, Figueroa faces a maximum life-term on supervised release during which the court can impose a number of special conditions designed to protect the children and prohibit the use of the Internet.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Sherri L. Zack.

An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence.A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.